Nine killed, 100 injured as train derails in Balochistan

Prima facie investigations reveal failure of brakes.

At least 12 people were killed and 100 others injured on Tuesday when a passenger train derailed in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province.

The incident took place at Ab-i-gum area in Bolan district of the province.

Driver, assistant among victims

Four coaches of the Jaffar Express, en route to Rawalpindi from the provincial capital of Quetta, derailed from its tracks. The driver and assistant driver of the train are among the twelve persons killed in the accident.

According to the prima facie investigations, the train derailed due to the failure of its brakes, Dawn reported.

Hospitals declare emergency

Rescue sources were quoted as saying that twelve people had died and around 100 others wounded in the mishap. The victims were rushed to nearby hospitals in Quetta where an emergency has been declared in all hospitals.

On November 1, four persons were killed and six others injured when a remote-controlled bomb placed close to railway track struck a passenger train in Balochistan province.

The remote-controlled blast took place when the Jaffar Express was running on the outskirts of Quetta. Those killed were railway employees. The outlawed United Baloch Army had claimed responsibility for the blast, the report said.